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Post subject: Hardtail Strats - How does the tone compare?
Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2011 6:06 am
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Any one out there have a hardtail Strat? I'd be interested in your opinion on the difference is tone compared to Standard Strat.


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Post subject: Re: Hardtail Strats - How does the tone compare?
Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2011 7:31 am
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I've played a few, they're a bit more "woody" sounding, whereas the tremolo are more steely. It resonates more, because the bridge is fastened tightly to the body. It sounds more like a Tele than a strat.


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Post subject: Re: Hardtail Strats - How does the tone compare?
Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2011 7:31 am
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I own three hardtails.

Sonically, a note's initial attack has a bit less metallic "bite" while the sustain is enhanced. The guitars deliver a more "woody" tone ala a Tele, if that makes any sense. These nuances are less prominent when chording. Tuning stability is improved since there is no fulcrum-cantilevered bridge, held in equilibrium by springs and string tension.

HTH

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Hardtail Strats - How does the tone compare?
Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2011 7:45 am
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It sounds like a Stratocaster. The pickups are the same, in the same position, with the same scale length, so it's pretty much the same.

To be more precise, when you play one it will sound just like YOU playing a Stratocaster.

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Post subject: Re: Hardtail Strats - How does the tone compare?
Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2011 10:09 am
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I have one in my harem. I don't find any more difference than between any two of my other Strats. My hardtail doesnt sound like my Teles but that is more of a pick up issue.

Having said all this, I often can't tell between two brands of guitars let alone between Fender Stratocasters. I play a lot of variety of guitars and switching between a nylon acoustic and a solid body electric makes differences among electrics minimal.


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Post subject: Re: Hardtail Strats - How does the tone compare?
Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2011 3:27 pm
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It is my experience that Strats with a functioning (meaning, not immobilized) tremolo possess a distinct added dimension vs. a hard tail in the sense that the tremolo springs add a minute touch of reverb. An exaggerated way to put it is that the played notes or chords seem to radiate through the entire tremolo system inside the guitar's body and back out.

On the other hand, with a hard tail, the 'report' seems to be faster. An exaggerated way to put this is that the played notes or chords tend to jump directly off the guitar's body.

Either way, a tweak of the amp can easily mimic one to the other as and if required, pickups notwithstanding. Further, my findings are by no means arrived at by scientific means. Rather, this is simply an 'armchair observation'.

As always, this is merely IMO where YMMV.

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Post subject: Re: Hardtail Strats - How does the tone compare?
Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2011 6:35 pm
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I've seen several '70s hardtails for sale at reasonable prices lately,seems most people have a poor opinion of them...not me,I keep all my trems on the deck anyway,I might look into a good vintage one.


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Post subject: Re: Hardtail Strats - How does the tone compare?
Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2011 12:51 am
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Rebelsoul wrote:
I've seen several '70s hardtails for sale at reasonable prices lately,seems most people have a poor opinion of them...not me,I keep all my trems on the deck anyway,I might look into a good vintage one.


The most significant issue with the '70s-era Strats -- whether hardtail or trem -- seems to be the weight. FMI had switched over completely to northern ash by this time and the guitars routinely ranged from 9 lbs all the way up to 12 and even 13 lbs, which is well into Les Paul territory. My '79 Anniversary Strat tipped the scales at over fifteen pounds. During my six years of ownership, it never left my home due solely to the heft issue. That said, I'd still entertain buying another -- earlier -- '70s Strat if it wasn't such a ball-and-chain.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Hardtail Strats - How does the tone compare?
Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2011 3:34 am
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15 pounds! :shock: yeah you hit the nail on the head RJ,most of the Strats I've played from that era have been heavy and that's the reason I haven't really gotten serious about one,that and I really don't like the "silver bullet"....the larger headstock isn't too appealing to me either,it's hard to justify spending money on something you're not too crazy about to begin with,but if the right one came along I would.


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Post subject: Re: Hardtail Strats - How does the tone compare?
Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2011 7:36 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
Rebelsoul wrote:
My '79 Anniversary Strat tipped the scales at over fifteen pounds.

Arjay


:shock: Both of my 2004 hardtails weighed together weigh less than 15 pounds.


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Post subject: Re: Hardtail Strats - How does the tone compare?
Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2011 9:26 am
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How does the sustain compare on a hardtail? I've always thought of getting a hardtail, because though I love my 50s classic player strat, I feel like it doesn't have the best sustain.


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Post subject: Re: Hardtail Strats - How does the tone compare?
Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2011 5:37 pm
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That was going to be my next question as well. Is the sustain that much better?


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Post subject: Re: Hardtail Strats - How does the tone compare?
Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2011 3:14 pm
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MarkusW wrote:
That was going to be my next question as well. Is the sustain that much better?


Shot for shot, I notice(d) no difference. YMMV.

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Post subject: Re: Hardtail Strats - How does the tone compare?
Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2011 8:33 pm
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Must admit I've never played a hard-tail, but I have been known to insert a "widget' or shim between the tremolo block and body for a couple of numbers to extend sustain. Really noticeable on the bridge pickup... I admit I was concerned about it changing pitch than making a strat sound like a tele.

Too many guitars come with set necks and overcome the limitation caused by glue in the neck joint with a hardtail. The hardtail is used to get some vibration and thus tone from a body. Pickups do not work like a microphone, it is the energy from the body and neck vibration being returned to the strings from the nut and bridge, that influences the string vibration/sustain which the PU turns into current and makes each electric guitar design sound so different.

The sound of a strat is compromised by the the floating vibrato bridge and the routing under the pick-guard. But it is the placing of the neck pickup in the null point of some of the string harmonics gives the strat it's nasal honk, we know and love.

Which is the bigger influence on the strat sound .... the bridge, the neck joint or the pickup placement? All choices are compromises but some compromises sound better than others

For my two cents

P.S. I am not Ed Roman.


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Post subject: Re: Hardtail Strats - How does the tone compare?
Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 12:46 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
Rebelsoul wrote:
I've seen several '70s hardtails for sale at reasonable prices lately,seems most people have a poor opinion of them...not me,I keep all my trems on the deck anyway,I might look into a good vintage one.


The most significant issue with the '70s-era Strats -- whether hardtail or trem -- seems to be the weight. FMI had switched over completely to northern ash by this time and the guitars routinely ranged from 9 lbs all the way up to 12 and even 13 lbs, which is well into Les Paul territory. My '79 Anniversary Strat tipped the scales at over fifteen pounds. During my six years of ownership, it never left my home due solely to the heft issue. That said, I'd still entertain buying another -- earlier -- '70s Strat if it wasn't such a ball-and-chain.

Arjay


Might be because the practically soak the things in finish. The necks have more finish than a bowling alley lane


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